The Original 5-Star Ratings

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Geneva’s grand historic hotel

90 Rooms / 6 Suites

Founded in 1865, Beau-Rivage, Geneva is one of the rare luxury hotels in Switzerland that’s managed by the direct descendants of its founder. History and innovation run deep here — the hotel has hosted a long line of royals in the 19th century and also debuted Switzerland’s first elevator in 1873. Elegant and tasteful décor, a warm welcome and attention to detail all urge you to feel as if you are entering a grand private home, not a large city hotel.

The Location

Situated on Geneva’s waterfront, the hotel’s views of Leman Lake, Mont Blac and Jet d’Eau is one of the biggest reasons high-profile guests have visited here again and again throughout history. It’s also ideally located in the center of the city, five minutes from the main railway station and a 15-minute walk from both luxury shopping and the banking district. Guests come here to feel part of Geneva and participate of the living history that the Geneva hotel represents. Here, Empress Elisabeth of Austria took her last breath after being attacked nearby in 1898, Czechoslovakia was signed into presence inside the hotel’s salon and Sotheby’s auctioned off the Duchess of Windsor’s jewelry collection.

The Rooms

Each of the 90 rooms is uniquely decorated. Whether it is the colors, the furniture or the objects inside a guest room, all have been artistically placed to tell a story. As a living museum, the luxury hotel boasts rooms with antique furnishings and rich heritage — think crystal chandeliers, cascading drapery and gilded accents. Most of the 19 suites have a private terrace where you can appreciate the breathtaking views the location has to offer. Bathrooms are covered with white marble and are equipped with vintage-style hardware; although everything is renovated and brand new, it feels like an opulent 19th-century bathroom with modern comforts.

Technology inside the rooms has also been updated considerable, with personal iPads on which to order room service or to use for various other requests. When possible, the television is hidden behind a mirror to preserve the travel-back-in-time ambiance that permeates the property.

The Restaurants

Two of the finest dinning options in Geneva reside inside Beau-Rivage — Patara Fine Thaï Cuisine and Le Chat-Botté. Patara opened in 1999 and it soon became a favorite spot to try exotic cuisine. The food is both authentic and modern with innovated use of spices and cooking methods. The chef and his brigade trained at least five years in Bangkok before working at the restaurant; and ingredients are shipped twice a week from Thailand to guarantee freshness.

The acclaimed Le Chat-Botté features seasonal contemporary French cuisine by chef Dominique Gauthier and is one of the most demanded reservations in Geneva. Expect well-executed dishes such as pan-seared duck foie gras or wild salmon with mushrooms, chanterelles and pistachio. Inside, the restaurant is all rich upholstery and gilded elegance; outside on the flowered terrace, diners will get a view of the harbor. The 40,000 bottles in the cellar are have a reputation all their own.